- Securing Europe’s Place in a New World Order
Launch initiative “Why Europe Matters” for youth
New project to re-engage young people on why Europe matters
Europe will only overcome the current political crisis if the next generation of Europeans cares about the EU and is ready to engage to further advance the European project.
- A major new initiative labelled ‘Why Europe Matters’ is today being launched to re-engage Europe’s youth in a multinational debate with politicians and business leaders
- The European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT) and JA Europe are to survey more than 10,000 youngsters about their hopes and concerns
- The cross-border project – launched to mark the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome – aims to increase enthusiasm and interest in forging a stronger Europe
The aspirations of those Europeans most affected by economic and political turmoil across Europe in recent years are to be addressed as part of a major new initiative that seeks to re-engage young people in a cross border debate.
Terrorism, politics, the Euro and migration have dominated the front pages of newspapers across Europe and have taken their toll on the hopes and ambitions of people aged between 16 and 24-years old. While youth unemployment continues to fall across the content, a fifth of all those aged between 16 and 24-years-old remain out of work.
Yet Europe’s youth remains the EU’s greatest source of inspiration and opportunity, the very foundations of the Treaty of Rome, which established the European Economic Community on 25 March 1957. Only by making youth a priority and re-engaging with the visions, concerns and ideas of young people can Europe hope to overcome the challenges which have rocked it and renew confidence that stability can return.
By teaming up with ERT, we aim to contribute to a stronger and more entrepreneurial Europe - one that is making the most of its youngest human capital. We need more entrepreneurs and new growing businesses in Europe and these, in turn, need skilled and enterprising employees. We also need to hear what young people think about Europe and what they want it to become. It’s their ideas that will sustain it in the future.
It is vital to understand the hopes and expectations of young people to further advance and improve the European project. This joint initiative with JA Europe is an attempt to re-engage young people in a dynamic dialogue on where they think Europe should be heading.